Intensifier



H. R. WALKER.

INTENSIFIERI 7 APPLICATION 'FILED Aue.23. 19i9.

1,344,528. Patented June22, 1920.

- R 4 I \L v/0 I hf f1. 1445M er WlTNESS: INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES HARRY B. WALKER, or GALATIA, ILLINOIS.

INTENSIFIER,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22,1920.

Application filed August 23. 1919. Serial No. 319.325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY R. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galatia, in the county of Salina and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Intensifiers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to intensifiersgfor the ignition systems ofinternal combustion engines, for the purpose of increasing the strengthof the spark at the spark plug electrodes, especially when the latterare covered with a coating-of carbon deposits or oil. I

Various means have heretofore been employed for accomplishing thisresult, usually, by securing an intensifier to, the spark plug terminal.This is objectionable in that these intensifiers are frequentlyexpensive and easily become broken owing to their exposed position whenthe hood of the automobile 1S raised.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providingan exceedingly inexpensive attachment, which may be easily and'quicklysecured within a coil box, such as is used uponxautomobiles of the Fordtype, the said attachment being in the nature of an insulated strippositioned between the coil unit contact and the adja cent springcontact, to separate the same and cause the current to jump the space soprovided and thereby increase or intensify thestrength of the spark.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings:

In the drawings Figure 1 is'a sectional View. through a coil box showingthe application of the invenv tion. I

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the invention per 86.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 denotesa coil box of the usual or any preferred construction, within which ishoused a coil unit 11. Connected to the coil box is a terminal 12, towhich there is designed to be connected the primary-circuit of theignition system of an internal combustion engine. The terminal 12 isheld in position by means'of -a"bolt 1.3, which has secured thereonwithin the coil box a spring contact 14, which is adapted to engage afixed contact 15 carried by the coil unit 11. This provides for aconnection between the coil unit and the primary circuit, while thesecondary circuit is similarly connected by means of a terminal 16, aspring contact 17 and a fixed contact 18. All of the foregoing is of theordinary construction and forms no art of the present invention.

he invention resides in the provision of means for separating one of thespring contacts and the fixed contact, so as to cause the current tojump the gap formed by the separation of these contacts. For thispurpose there is provided a strip 19, which is preferably formed offiber or other insulating material. One end of this strip is providedwith an opening 20, which is slightly offset from the longitudinalcenter of the strip and is adapted to receive the bolt 13, which holdsthe terminal 12 of the primary circuit to the coil box. The strip 19 ispositioned beneath the spring contact 14, so that the latter will stillengage the fixed contact 15 of the coil unit. The lower end of the strip19 is provided with spaced apertures .21 and this end of the strip isinterposed between the spring contact 17 and the fixed contact 18 of thesecondarycircuit, the apertures 21 being disposed'at the point ofseparation of the said contacts. This position of the strip 19 separatesthe contacts 17 and 18, "so as to provide a gap which is jumped by thecurrent passing through the secondary circuit' and builds up orincreases the strength of the same. This causes the plug electrodes tospark, even though they are fouled by the accumulation of carbon oroil.

The invention is' susceptible of various changes in its form,proportions and minor details of construction and the right is hereinreserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of theclaims hereto appended. i

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is '1. Thecombination with a spark unit having a fixed contact and a springcontact, of an insulated element interposed between said contacts tospace the'latter apart to provide a gap.

2. The combination with a spark coil unit having a fixed contact and aspring contact,

of means interposed between the said contacts to space the latter apartto provide a D 3. The combination with a spark coil unit having a fixedcontact and a spring contact, of a perforated insulated elementinterposed between said contacts to space the latter' apart and toprovide a gap through said perforations.

4. The combination with a spark coil having spaced fixed contacts andremovable spring contacts associated therewith, of a' strip ofinsulating material secured beneath one of the spring contacts andextending between the other spring contact and the adjaoent fixedcontacts and having openings therein to provide a gap.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

HARRY R. WALKER.

